Miami

September 2014

Growing Downtown Population

There is a renewed push for construction of an urban circulator streeetcar line in Miami, according to a story posted by the MiamiNewTimes site. The idea was being seriously considered in 2006, but lost momentum during the financial downturn. Commissioner Mark Sarnoff is backing the concept citing the fact that housing for an additionial 85,000 residents is under construction in downtown Miami with the population doubling since 2000. Sarnoff and other backers are urging planners to raise the priority of circulator streetcar.

What route the streetcar would take is uncertain. In 2006 planners envisioned a pair of lines with one serving Government Center to the Design District and the other running to the Health District.

MPO Cautious About Priorities

According to a report on the MiamiTodayNews site, the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning organization (MPO) postponed supporting the downtown trolley plan until its priority can be weighed against other projects in the planning pipeline.

Other projects the group is weighing include a bus rapid transit networ, the Bay Link light rail or streetcar link to Miami Beach, and a possible gondola line linking major attractions.

Miami officials said they don not want to compete with the Bay Link but do feel the downtown streetcar line could help relieve congestion.

The MPO did not announce when it would reconsider project priorities and advance the downtown plan.